Mayor Nutter Calls For American Education Revolution
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Mayor Nutter's Independence Day message was revolutionary, but maybe not in the way you'd expect. The mayor called for an American Education Revolution, with the focus and vigor of the Race to the Moon.
"If this country could put a man on the moon safely, then surely we can put a young person in college smartly," Nutter says.
One step removed from the incredible shrinking School District state aid package, the mayor says the penny-wise approach is foolish, "As the brutal impact of the Great Recession is ending, we're now seeing the start of the Great Retreat from the compact to provide a thorough education to all Americans. In the name of political fiscal conservatism, we're seeing public education funding slashed."
And he says this effective closing-off of the future to many rips at the nation's promise, "What does life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness really mean? What does it mean to some of our young people, especially young black men, some without education or hope, shooting each other for no good reason, senseless violence born of ignorant behavior?"
The mayor says education is part of national defense in a competitive world.
Reported by John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio 1060
